Shock suppressor

ABSTRACT

A shock suppressor has a first base, a second base and a connecting device. The second base is parallel to the first base. The connecting device is slidably mounted between the first base and second base to connect the first and second bases and has a universal connector. The first base abuts against the connecting device in a curved contact surface to provide a first sliding mechanism in multiple directions. The second base abuts against the connecting device to provide a second sliding mechanism in a unidirection.

The present invention is a divisional application of the applicationSer. No. 11/638,996, filed on Dec. 13, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,122,651.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a suppressor for a building, a bridgeor a motion sensitive equipment, and more particularly to a shocksuppressor that can dissipate seismic shock energy in both horizontaland vertical directions efficiently.

2. Description of Related Art

Effect of ground motions is very important factors to be considered inthe design of a high building, a bridge or a skyscraper, frommicro-vibrations to catastrophic earthquakes. Therefore, shock reductionis very important aspect in the construction of a building, a bridge ora skyscraper.

A conventional shock suppressor is provided to dissipate shock energyand substantially comprises a base, a supporting plate and a slider. Thebase and the supporting plate have respectively a recess correspondingto each other, and the slider are held slidably in the recesses in thebase and the supporting plate. The slider comprises a first slidingblock, a second sliding block and a ball. Each sliding block has aconvex end corresponding to a corresponding recess and a concavity forholding the ball inside. With the sliding movement of the sliderrelative to the recesses in the base and the supporting plate, shockenergy generated by earthquake can be dissipated.

However, the conventional shock suppressor can dissipate shock energy inmultiple directions, but has a complicate structure. In addition, todefine semispherical recesses in both the base and the supporting plateis difficult and time-consuming, and the cost for manufacturing theconventional shock suppressor is high. Furthermore, the conventionalshock suppressor cannot be economically applied to bridges or anelongated building because that the dissipating frequencies anddisplacement capacities in different shock-dissipating directions of theconventional shock suppressor are the same.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide ashock suppressor to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a shock suppressorthat can dissipate seismic shock energy in both horizontal and verticaldirections efficiently. The shock suppressor has a first base, a secondbase and a connecting device. The second base is parallel to the firstbase. The connecting device is slidably mounted between the first baseand second base to connect the first and second bases and has auniversal connector. The first base abuts against the connecting devicein a curved contact surface to provide a first sliding mechanism inmultiple directions. The second base abuts against the connecting deviceto provide a second sliding mechanism in a unidirection.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view in partial cross section of afirst embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view in partial cross section of asecond embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a thirdembodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a fourthembodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a fifthembodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a sixthembodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a seventhembodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 7A is an enlarged side view in partial cross section of analternative embodiment of a rib and an engaging channel of the shocksuppressor in FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view in partial cross section of an eighthembodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view in partial cross section of aninth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view in partial cross section of atenth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a side view in partial cross section of an eleventhembodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a side view in partial cross section of a twelfth embodimentof a shock suppressor in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view in partial cross section of athirteenth embodiment of a shock suppressor in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 13, a shock suppressor in accordance withthe present invention can be applied to a building, a bridge or aninstrument and comprises a first base (10), a second base (20) and aconnecting device (30). The second base (20) is parallel to the firstbase (10). The connecting device (30) is slidably mounted between thefirst base (10) and second base (20) to connect the first and secondbases (10,20) and has a universal connector. The first base (10) abutsagainst the connecting device (30) in a curved contact surface toprovide a first sliding mechanism in multiple directions. The secondbase (20) abuts against the connecting device (30) to provide a secondsliding mechanism in a unidirection. A damping device (40) is mounted onat least one of the first base (10), the second base (20) and theconnecting device (30). The damping device (40) can be made of resilientrubber material, viscoelastic material, frictional material or materialwith an excellent damping coefficient.

In practice, the locations of the first and second bases (10,20) can beexchanged based on different needs. The first base (10) can be mountedon the ground, the floor or a building and is located below the secondbase (20) as shown in FIGS. 1 to 12. In an alternative embodiment, thesecond base (20) can be mounted on the ground, the floor or a buildingand is located below the first base (10) as shown in FIG. 13.

With reference to FIG. 1, in a first embodiment of a shock suppressor inaccordance with the present invention, the first base (10) has a concavesurface (11) defined in a side facing the second base (20). The secondbase (20) has a sliding channel (21) defined in a side facing the firstbase (10), and the sliding channel (21) has a concave surface (22)facing the first base (10). The damping device (40) comprises twodamping pads attached respectively to the first and second bases(10,20).

The connecting device (30) comprises a first slider (31) and a secondslider (32). The first slider (31) abuts against the first base (10) andhas a facing end facing to the second slider (32) and a convex surface(311) formed on the first slider (31) at an end opposite to the facingend and corresponding to and matching with the concave surface (11) inthe first base (10). With the concave surface (11) in the first base(10) and the convex surface (311) on the first slider (31), the firstsliding mechanism between the first base (10) and the connecting device(30) in a curved contact surface is achieved.

The second slider (32) abuts against the second base (20) and has afacing end facing to the first slider (31). The second slider (32) has aconvex surface (322) formed on the second slider (32) at an end oppositeto the facing end and corresponding to and matching with the concavesurface (22) in the sliding channel (21) of the second base (20). Withthe sliding channel (21) in the second base (20) and the convex surface(322) on the second slider (32), the second sliding mechanism betweenthe second base (20) and the connecting device (30) in a unidirectionalsliding direction is achieved. In addition, the second slider (32)further has two guiding sides (321) respectively abutting against theinner sides of the sliding channel (21).

The universal connector is formed between the first slider (31) and thesecond slider (32) and comprises two recesses (312,323) and a supportingmember (33). The recesses (312,323) are defined respectively in thefacing ends of the first slider (31) and the second slider (32). Thesupporting member (33) is rotatably mounted in the recesses (312,323) inthe first and second sliders (31,32). In the first embodiment, therecesses (312,323) in the first and second sliders (31,32) arehemispherical, and the supporting member (33) is spherical.

In such an arrangement, the connecting device (30) can provide anexcellent supporting effect to the supported structures includingbuildings, bridges, etc. before a shock occurring. When a shock occurs,the first base (10) will move relative to the second base (20). With theengagements of the first sliding mechanism between the first base (10)and the first slider (31), the second sliding mechanism between thesecond base (20) and the second slider (32), the universal connectorbetween the sliders (31,32) and the damping device (40), the shockenergy can be efficiently dissipated, eliminated, suppressed or absorbedin both horizontal and vertical directions.

When the shock has stopped, the first and second bases (10,20) willautomatically move to an original position with the concave surface (11)in the first base (10), the concave surface (22) in the sliding channel(21) in the second base (20) and the connecting device (30), such thatthe shock suppressor has an automatic positioning effect to an originalstatus.

With reference to FIG. 2, the second embodiment of the shock suppressorhas a structure substantially same as that in the first embodimentexcept that the universal connector of the connecting device (30A)comprises a recess (312) defined in the facing end of the first slider(31) and a convex protrusion (324) formed on the facing end of thesecond slider (32A) and rotatably held in the recess (312) in the firstslider (31). The recess (312) in the first slider (31) and the convexprotrusion (324) on the second slider (32A) are hemispherical.

With reference to FIG. 3, the third embodiment of the shock suppressorhas a structure substantially same as that in the first embodimentexcept that the universal connector of the connecting device (30B)comprises a recess (323) defined in the facing end of the second slider(32) and a convex surface (313) formed on the facing end of the firstslider (31B) and rotatably held in the recess (323) in the second slider(32). The recess (323) in the second slider (32) is hemispherical, andthe first slider (31B) is a hemispherical block with a hemisphericalconvex surface (313) rotatably held in the recess (323) in the secondslider (32).

With reference to FIG. 4, in the fourth embodiment of the shocksuppressor, the first slider (31C) of the connecting device (30C) is aflat round block, the recess (323C) in the second slider (32C) is a flatconcave recess, and the convex surface (313C) on the first slider (31C)is a flat convex surface.

With reference to FIG. 5, in the fifth embodiment of the shocksuppressor, the second base (20A) has two parallel side plates (23)formed on and extending from the side facing the first base (10) and aguiding block (24) mounted between the side plates (23) to define thesliding channel (21A) between the side plates (23) and the guiding block(24). The guiding block (24) has a concave surface (22A) facing thefirst base (10) and corresponding to and matching with the convexsurface (322) on the second slider (32).

With reference to FIG. 6, in the sixth embodiment of the shocksuppressor, the universal connector of the connecting device (30A)comprises a hemispherical recess (312) defined in the facing end of thefirst slider (31A) and a hemispherical convex protrusion (324) formed onthe facing end of the second slider (32A) and rotatably held in therecess (312) in the first slider (31A).

With reference to FIG. 7, in the seventh embodiment of the shocksuppressor, the second base (20B) has a rail (25) attached to the sidefacing the first base (10). The rail (25) has a curved rib (251) with aconcave surface facing the first base (10). The second slider (32D) ofthe connecting device (30D) has an engaging channel (325) correspondingto and matching with the curved rib (251) on the rail (25). In theseventh embodiment, the curved rib (251,251′) of the rail (25) on thesecond base (20B) and the engaging channel (325,325′) in the secondslider (32D) may have a V-shaped cross section, a semispherical crosssection as shown in FIG. 7A or an inverse T-shaped cross section asshown in FIG. 9. Accordingly, the second sliding mechanism in aunidirectional sliding direction is constructed of the rib (251) and theengaging channel (325).

With reference to FIG. 8, the eighth embodiment of the shock suppressorhas a structure substantially same as that in the seventh embodimentexcept that the universal connector of the connecting device (30E)comprises a hemispherical recess (312) defined in the facing end of thefirst slider (31) and a hemispherical convex protrusion (324) formed onthe facing end of the second slider (32E) and rotatably held in therecess (312) in the first slider (31).

With reference to FIG. 9, in the ninth embodiment of the shocksuppressor, the rib (261) of the rail (26) on the second base (20C) andthe engaging channel (326) in the second slider (32F) of the connectingdevice (30F) have an inverse T-shaped cross section.

With reference to FIG. 10, the tenth embodiment of the shock suppressorhas a structure substantially same as that in the ninth embodimentexcept that the universal connector of the connecting device (30G)comprises a hemispherical recess (312) defined in the facing end of thefirst slider (31) and a hemispherical convex protrusion (324) formed onthe facing end of the second slider (32G) and rotatably held in therecess (312) in the first slider (31).

With reference to FIG. 11, in the eleventh embodiment of the shocksuppressor, the rail (27) on the second base (20D) further has a flatand unidirectional rib (271) matching and engaging with an engagingchannel (327) defined in the second slider (32H) of the connectingdevice (30H). The rail (27) further has a bar extending through thesecond slider (32H) and two resilient members (272) mounted around thebar and abutting against the second slider (32H). The resilient members(272) may be springs, plastic sleeves or cylinders. With the arrangementof the resilient members (272), the resilient members (272) can providea recoil force to the second slider (32H) to make the connecting device(30H) to move automatically to the original status.

With reference to FIG. 12, the twelfth embodiment of the shocksuppressor has a structure substantially same as that in the eleventhembodiment except that the universal connector of the connecting device(30I) comprises a hemispherical recess (312) defined in the facing endof the first slider (31) and a hemispherical convex protrusion (324)formed on the facing end of the second slider (32I) and rotatably heldin the recess (312) in the first slider (31).

With such an arrangement, shock energy in multiple directions can beefficiently dissipated by the shock suppressor in accordance with thepresent invention. Additionally, with the first sliding mechanism in auniversal direction and the second sliding mechanism in a unidirectionalsliding direction, the displacement capacities and shock-dissipatingfrequencies in different direction are different. Therefore, the shocksuppressor can be applied to bridges or elongated building and isversatile in use.

Furthermore, the shock suppressor has a simplified structure, such thatto manufacture and assemble the shock suppressor is easy and convenientand the cost for manufacturing the shock suppressor can be reduced.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and function of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts withinthe principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

1. A shock suppressor comprising: a first base; a second base parallelto the first base; and a connecting device slidably mounted between thefirst base and second base to connect the first and second bases andhaving a connector, wherein, the first base abuts against the connectingdevice in a curved contact surface; and the second base abuts againstthe connecting device; the second base has a side facing the first baseand a rail attached to the side facing the first base, and the railhaving a curved rib with a surface concave along its length facing thefirst base and abutting the connecting device on said concave surface;and the connecting device has an engaging channel corresponding to andmatching with the curved rib on the rail.
 2. The shock suppressor asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the first base has a concave surface definedin a side facing the second base; and the connecting device has a convexsurface formed on one end of the connecting device and corresponding toand matching with the concave surface in the first base.
 3. The shocksuppressor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connecting devicecomprises a first slider abutting against the first base and having afacing end facing to the second slider; and a second slider abuttingagainst the second base and having a facing end facing to the firstslider; and the connector is formed between the first slider and thesecond slider.
 4. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe connector comprises two recesses defined respectively in the facingends of the first slider and the second slider; and a supporting memberrotatably mounted in the recesses in the first and second sliders. 5.The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the recesses in thefirst and second sliders are hemispherical; and the supporting member isspherical.
 6. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 3, wherein theconnector comprises a recess defined in the facing end of the firstslider; and a convex protrusion formed on the facing end of the secondslider and rotatably held in the recess in the first slider.
 7. Theshock suppressor as claimed in claim 6, wherein the recess in the firstslider and the convex protrusion on the second slider are hemispherical.8. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second slideris a flat round block; the recess in the first slider is a flat concaverecess; and the convex protrusion on the second slider is a flat convexprotrusion.
 9. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 3, wherein theconnector comprises a recess defined in the facing end of the secondslider; and a convex surface formed on the facing end of the firstslider and rotatably held in the recess in the second slider.
 10. Theshock suppressor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first slider is ahemispherical block; the recess in the second slider is a hemisphericalrecess; and the convex surface on the first slider is a hemisphericalsurface.
 11. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 6, wherein thefirst slider is a flat round block; the recess in the second slider is aflat concave recess; and the convex surface on the first slider is aflat convex surface.
 12. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 1,wherein the first base is mounted below the second base.
 13. The shocksuppressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second base is mountedbelow the first base.
 14. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 1wherein the curved rib on the rail and the engaging channel of theconnecting device have a V-shaped cross section.
 15. The shocksuppressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curved rib on the rail andthe engaging channel of the connecting device have an inverse T-shapedcross section.
 16. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe curved rib on the rail and the engaging channel of the connectingdevice have a semispherical cross section.
 17. The shock suppressor asclaimed in claim 1 further comprising a damping device mounted on atleast one of the first base, the second base and the connecting device.18. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 12 further comprising adamping device mounted on at least one of the first base, the secondbase and the connecting device.
 19. The shock suppressor as claimed inclaim 13 further comprising a damping device mounted on at least one ofthe first base, the second base and the connecting device.